There are times when it is good to take a step back and reassess your situation. I have worked with this Ficus “Too little” for years and have made no progress. I got 6 stitches in my left hand working on it and I’m pretty sure this tree isn’t for me.

So what to do with it? I can honestly say I learned from this tree and now so can someone else. I figured the best thing I could do would be to donate it to the Central Florida Bonsai Club. I’m hoping it goes to a good home.

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The last time I did any work on this tree was January 21, 2007!  

So here we are 3 1/2 years later , and boy has this tree changed.

What happened?  Well I found out that Too Littles not neccesarily like to be bonsai.  Their leaves are small and the trees pop out new growth everywhere.  However their branches have a tendency to continually move upright after the styling wires have been removed. Which meant that it was a high maintenance job keeping the tree styled as I had it. So I took it to a nursery for the past 3 years to let it grow and to thicken up even more.

Another problem with the tree was a very odd one sided surface root, that had always bothered me.

 

After a bit of thinking and a lot of heavy pruning I began to find a new tree under a mass of branches and leaves. Best of all a maintainable style. I plan to keep the branches short and dense, so I won’t have any problems with branches bending back.  Just look how massive the trunk looks compared to the styling from years ago

My new tree front was the old back, and the long surface root has been reduced and now shows on the right side of the trunk. I am so happy with this tree now, it is quickly becoming one of my favorites!!

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This tree has come a long way in 3 years. Once the canopy fills in this spring it will really be something special. I intend to move the apex slightly to the left once it has more growth, but for now you can see the basic outline of the finished tree. Also the bottom left branch needs to extend about 4 more inches. January 2007

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I rewired this tree in order to get some control of all the new growth. I don’t expect this tree to really have a defined shape until next summer. However I believe the basic outline can be seen at this stage. Sept 2006

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